BA LLB course duration is unreasonable, irrational: Plea filed in SC

The plea stated that "at present the duration of five years (10 semesters) for Bachelor of Law course is unreasonable, arbitrary and irrational. Hence, it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the constitution. If there had been less time for completing the bachelor degree, the students would have got two undisturbed years to obtain practical knowledge in law firm or court or to prepare for higher studies or judicial services exam."

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Apex Court seeking a direction to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and Centre to form a panel to look into the feasibility of starting the three-year Bachelor of Law Course after Class 12th standard like BSc, Bcom and BA courses. The plea has been filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

The plea stated that "at present the duration of five years (10 semesters) for Bachelor of Law course is unreasonable, arbitrary and irrational. Hence, it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the constitution, it claimed."

"If there had been less time for completing the bachelor degree, the students would have got two undisturbed years to obtain practical knowledge in law firm or court or to prepare for higher studies or judicial services exam," the plea further added.

Upadhyay stated that it is not that starting early is a sine qua non for success but it will be helpful for bright students.

"Former Law Minister, Ram Jethmalani completed his Law degree at the age of 17 years and started his firm at the age of 18 years. Was there any 5 years LLB course to bar his progress and obscure his vision? There was none. The eminent jurist Fali Nariman completed law at the age of 21 years. There are numerous examples of prodigies not being encumbered by a rigid system which focuses more on being the jack of all rather than being the master of one," the plea said.

He further said that it appears to be unreasonable and the five years duration for law courses looks like have been set up under the pressure of college management so that they can earn maximum from the course. 

"The course fee of private law colleges and even the National Law Universities is exorbitant and lower as well as middle-class students find it very difficult to pursue Bachelor of Law with such fee structure and that too for five years," the petition stated.

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